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{{Short description|Football stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan}}
{{Infobox
| stadium_name = Changlimithang Stadium
| image = Changlimithang Stadium from mezzanine.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| address = Changlimithang, Chang Lam, Thimphu, Bhutan
| location = [[Thimphu]], [[Bhutan]]
Line 28 ⟶ 29:
| nicknames =
| field_shape = rectangular
| tenants = [[Bhutan Premier League]]
| seating_capacity =
| original_capacity =
| dimensions = 122 x 76 yards <br> (102.4m x 69.4m)
}}
'''Changlimithang Stadium''' is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Thimphu]], [[Bhutan]], which serves as the [[national stadium]]. It is predominantly used for [[association football|football]] matches and is the home of the [[Bhutan national football team]], other national selections and a number of Thimphu-based football clubs.
Located {{convert|
==Original stadium==
Changlimithang is built on the site of a [[decisive victory|decisive]] [[battle]] in Bhutan's history, fought in 1885, which established the supremacy of [[Ugyen Wangchuk|Ugyen Wangchuck]], his coronation as the first Druk Gyalpo and led to the unification of Bhutan following a series of [[civil war
==Refurbishment==
[[File:Bhutan-soccerfield-feve.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The stadium as set of 2002 documentary [[The Other Final]]]]
The stadium was completely refurbished and reopened in 2008 for the dual celebration of the coronation of the fifth Druk Gyalpo [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]] and the centenary of the establishment of the [[House of Wangchuck]] and the reunification of the country.<ref name="RAO2">{{cite web|url=http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_stadium01.html|title=Thimphu: A face-lift for Changlingmethang|last=Dorji|first=Kinley|date=2006|website=raonline.com|publisher=RA Online / Kuensel|
[[File:Changlimithang Stadium-Field Level.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A view of the VIP stand]]
Further enhancements were made to the football pitch in 2011, when floodlighting was added.<ref name="DrukGreen">{{cite web|url=http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/about-us/corporate-social-responsibilties/279-floodlighting|title=Floodlighting at Changlimithang|website=drukgreen.bt|publisher=Druk Green|
Further refurbishment was announced in June 2016. The first improvements included installation of plastic seats on the concrete galleries, installation of additional [[Public toilet|restroom]] facilities, and expansion of player facilities, such as [[changing room|locker rooms]]. It was announced that plastic seats would be installed in other sections of the stadium pending budget. The Nu 35 million costs were provided by the [[government]] of [[India]].▼
▲Further enhancements were made to the football pitch in 2011, when floodlighting was added.<ref name="DrukGreen">{{cite web|url=http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/about-us/corporate-social-responsibilties/279-floodlighting|title=Floodlighting at Changlimithang|website=drukgreen.bt|publisher=Druk Green|accessdate=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050756/http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/about-us/corporate-social-responsibilties/279-floodlighting#|archive-date=2014-08-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> There had been a desire to include floodlighting at the stadium since 2006, but this had not been achieved due to the high cost of installation.<ref name="DrukGreen" /> A trip to Bhutan by [[Tata Group]] owner [[Ratan Tata]] led to an agreement between [[Tata Power]], Druk Green and the Bhutan Olympic Committee to install floodlighting, with Tata bearing the cost of installation as an act of corporate social responsibility.<ref name="RAO2" /> The total cost of installing the floodlighting was [[Rupee|Rs]] 13,230,000.<ref name="RAO2" />
▲Further refurbishment was announced in June 2016. The first improvements included installation of plastic seats on the concrete galleries, installation of additional [[restroom]] facilities, and expansion of player facilities, such as [[changing room|locker rooms]]. It was announced that plastic seats would be installed in other sections of the stadium pending budget. The Nu 35 million costs were provided by the [[government]] of [[India]].
==Modern usage==
As well as continuing to hold sporting events, the facility has been utilised for wider public occasions including the [[Wedding of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema]].<ref name="BBS2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=6754|title=Thousands celebrate in Changlingmethang|date=15 October 2011|website=bbs.bt|publisher=[[Bhutan Broadcasting Service]]|
Following the wedding, more improvements were made to the football pitch, with the grass field being replaced with an artificial surface to improve the performance of the players and add additional durability to the facility as a whole.<ref name="Kuensel2">{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/to-open-artificial-turf/#.U9ji7vn1CFY |title=To open artificial turf |last=Phuntsho |first=Tashi |date=13 December 2013 |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel Online |
▲As well as continuing to hold sporting events, the facility has been utilised for wider public occasions including the [[Wedding of Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema]].<ref name="BBS2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=6754|title=Thousands celebrate in Changlingmethang|date=15 October 2011|website=bbs.bt|publisher=[[Bhutan Broadcasting Service]]|accessdate=30 July 2014}}</ref> Despite the increase in capacity a few years earlier, the stadium was unable to hold all of the people who wished to attend the occasion.<ref name="BBS2" />
▲Following the wedding, more improvements were made to the football pitch, with the grass field being replaced with an artificial surface to improve the performance of the players and add additional durability to the facility as a whole.<ref name="Kuensel2">{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/to-open-artificial-turf/#.U9ji7vn1CFY |title=To open artificial turf |last=Phuntsho |first=Tashi |date=13 December 2013 |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel Online |accessdate=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200359/http://www.kuenselonline.com/to-open-artificial-turf/ |archivedate=2 January 2014 }}</ref> Historically, it had been very difficult to maintain the ground to an acceptable standard, with an uneven, rain-soaked pitch leading to mocking calls from spectators in the mid-1990s.<ref name="Kuensel5">{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/new-enthusiasm-for-an-old-sport/#.U9jlHvn1CFY |title=New enthusiasm for an old sport |last=Norbu |first=Passang |date=12 April 2013 |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel Online |accessdate=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051250/http://www.kuenselonline.com/new-enthusiasm-for-an-old-sport/ |archivedate=8 August 2014 }}</ref>
[[File:Bhutan archery.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Used for archery]]
Financial support from [[FIFA]] enabled the project to go ahead and work started at the ground in March 2012 with the artificial turf being laid in November and finished in December the same year.<ref name="Kuensel2" /> As part of a two-day visit to Bhutan in March 2012, FIFA president [[Sepp Blatter]] performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the new pitch, promising that FIFA would support Bhutanese football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bhutanobserver.bt/5495-bo-news-about-fifa_to_help_bhutans_football.aspx|title=FIFA to help
[[File:Bhutan - Changlimithang Stadium 2013.jpg|alt=Football training at night|thumb|Football training at night]]
Unusually for a national stadium, and as a result of the conversion of the playing surface to artificial turf, the football field at Changlimithang is available for public hire and is extremely popular with people in Thimphu, with the pitch booked for public use from
Changlimithang played host to the FIFA World Cup trophy as part of its global tour prior to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/world-cup-trophy-tour-countdown-for-bhutan-begins/#.U9kE0vn1CFY|title=World Cup trophy tour – Countdown for Bhutan begins|last=Dorji|first=Tshering|date=7 December 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|
▲Unusually for a national stadium, and as a result of the conversion of the playing surface to artificial turf, the football field at Changlimithang is available for public hire and is extremely popular with people in Thimphu, with the pitch booked for public use from 5pm - 1am most days during the week as office workers seek to make use of it<ref name="Kuensel5" /> and from 7am to 9pm at weekends.<ref name="Kuensel6">{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/hired-out-for-14-hours-a-day-5-days-a-week/#.U9jk8_n1CFY|title=Hired out for 14 hours a day, 5 days a week|last=Phuntsho|first=Tashi|date=31 December 2012|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|accessdate=30 July 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121095403/http://www.kuenselonline.com/hired-out-for-14-hours-a-day-5-days-a-week/#.U9jk8_n1CFY|archivedate=21 January 2013}}</ref> This has proved to be a valuable source of income for the Bhutan Football Federation. With teams needing to make bookings weeks in advance, the Federation made Nu 75,000 in the first fortnight that the pitch was available to the public, with the money gained from hire charges going towards financing additional artificial surfaces planned for elsewhere in the country.<ref name="Kuensel6" /> Demand for the chance to play on an artificial surface is now so great that the Bhutan Football Federation are prepared to begin to hire out the artificial pitch at Changjiji, currently available only to train members of the national squad.<ref name="Kuensel7">{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/artificial-turf-raking-in-the-green/#.U9jlffn1CFY|title=Artificial turf raking in the green|last=Dorji|first=Kezang|date=19 November 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|accessdate=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714114235/http://www.kuenselonline.com/artificial-turf-raking-in-the-green/#.U9jlffn1CFY#.U9jlffn1CFY|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are plans to open artificial surfaces in three more [[Dzongkhag]]s in the near future.<ref name="Kuensel7" />
==See also==
▲Changlimithang played host to the FIFA World Cup trophy as part of its global tour prior to the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/world-cup-trophy-tour-countdown-for-bhutan-begins/#.U9kE0vn1CFY|title=World Cup trophy tour – Countdown for Bhutan begins|last=Dorji|first=Tshering|date=7 December 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|accessdate=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051256/http://www.kuenselonline.com/world-cup-trophy-tour-countdown-for-bhutan-begins/#.U9kE0vn1CFY#.U9kE0vn1CFY|archive-date=2014-08-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Centenary and Coronation Park]]
==References==
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[[Category:Football venues in Bhutan]]
[[Category:National stadiums|Bhutan]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Asia]]
[[Category:Sport in Thimphu]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1974]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Thimphu]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Bhutan]]
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